Verses from an Anna Chaplain

Kay Bradley is an Anna Chaplain – dedicated to the spiritual care of older people – for the four parishes in the Lenborough benefice. She’s also a churchwarden in Padbury. She explains the connection between the Bible passages opposite and what she does day to day.

Dwelling in the Word

These Bible passages have spoken, and continue to speak, to Kay Bradley. When she was longing to respond to God’s call, at times when she is overburdened, and as a constant inspiration, these are the verses that have come alive for her.

1 Samuel 3.4–9
Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
Mark 6.31–32
He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Ephesians 3.16–21
I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

These verses are from the New Revised Standard version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

An incredible tool

Covid and lockdown, frustrating as those times were, made me appreciate the joy of peace and quiet. Throughout lockdown, our vicar led the church online. A weekly meditation was livestreamed. It was amazing. I couldn’t get enough of it! But let’s go back a moment…

I have attended church services all my life. When we were children, there was nothing else to do on Sundays – no shopping, television or car. The Zoom meetings and my reflections made me realise the scale of my ignorance about the Bible. For over 75 years I heard Bible passages read in church. I could have told you most of Jesus’ miracles, but otherwise my knowledge was shallow. My late husband was an architect and probably I knew more about quinquennials (five-yearly church building inspections) than I did about the Bible!

I had the opportunity to think about what I had taken for granted for so long. Why hadn’t I realised what an incredible tool the Bible is?

Learning by doing

I tend to learn by doing. What could I do? I was too old for ordination, but I kept seeing mention of Anna Chaplains, there for people who have lived longer and are of strong, little or no faith – in other words, every older person.

After much research and my own simple way of praying, more and more I found the verses of 1 Samuel resonating with me.

“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Samuel didn’t know who was calling or what was expected of him but his and Eli’s faith were enough for him to say yes. I really felt that God was pointing me towards Anna Chaplain ministry, and many times since I made the momentous decision to train as an Anna Chaplain, I have been strengthened by these words.

Navigating unfamiliar territory

When confronted with seemingly unsolvable problems, I get that feeling that God must be telling me to do something that leads into unfamiliar territory – in these times especially, the verses give me strength to accept the challenge.

This year there was a vacancy for a vicar in our benefice. On the plus side it gave me opportunities that I never thought I would have. However, sometimes it all seemed a bit overwhelming. Jesus recognised the need for rest, so when I think, “I can’t do this anymore,” I turn to Mark 6.31–32.

The disciples needed peace and quiet, but are faced with a multitude of people reliant on them for help. I read Jesus’ words:

“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”

My quiet place is a candlelit room, there just for me and my thoughts.

Ephesians 3.16–21 sums up the reason I do what I do. At times it is hard to focus, the road ahead full of potholes and there seem to be rules and regulations about everything, but I feel privileged to be part of a wonderful church family where I am “rooted and grounded in love”.

As told to Pathways by Kay Bradley.

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Page last updated: Tuesday 29th July 2025 12:43 PM
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